Handwheels and Associated Control Consoles

ABSTRACT

Handwheel systems, including control consoles incorporating handwheels of the inventive subject matter, are described in this application. Handwheels described in this application can be used to control remotely located motors, especially those configured to control camera movements. To make it easier for camera operators to control remotely located motors using handwheels, those handwheels can be incorporated into a control console. Control consoles of the inventive subject matter can include several dials, toggle buttons, a display, and a variety of different inputs and outputs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is motor-assisted handwheels and controlconsoles integrating motor-assisted handwheels.

BACKGROUND

The background description includes information that may be useful inunderstanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any ofthe information provided in this application is prior art or relevant tothe presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically orimplicitly referenced is prior art.

A “fly-by-wire” handwheel system that incorporates haptic feedback tosimulate rotational inertia. Applying force to the handwheel to turn itnot only causes the handwheel to turn, but a feedback system causes thewheel to feel heavier than it actually is. Historically, handwheels forcamera mounts were made smooth by virtue of the mass of the system thatis rotated by a handwheel, including the mass of the handwheel itself.Because of the weight of the entire system, handwheels in mechanicalsystems turned smoothly from manual force input to the system (e.g.,mechanical handwheel systems had high rotational inertia).

But in new “fly-by-wire” systems, the feeling of weight disappears.Instead, electronic input is received that causes a remotely mountedmotor to turn a camera. Thus, the individual giving input to the systemnever directly feels the weight of the camera system, which can lead tomovements that are not smooth since the camera operator has very littlefeel for the weight of the system.

Several patents documents work to address smooth movements of camerasthat are motor controlled, but none are directed to solutions thatimprove user experience via haptic feedback. Instead, the previoussolutions work to remove human input entirely. For example, U.S. Pat.No. 8,125,564 to Kozlov et al. describes a gimbal system thatfacilitates steady camera movements using electric motors. U.S. Pat. No.8,485,740 to Chapman describes a camera mount system with intricateelectronics and motor controllers to create smooth camera movements, butthis system also fails to contemplate the importance of feel whencontrolling a camera, and the system described here fails to give anoperator a feel for the camera's movement.

Finally, US20050007553A1 to Romanoff et al. discusses a camera mountedon the end of a boom that, upon moving the boom, the camera is caused tostay focused on a particular location, where the camera's movements arecontrolled by electric motors. But the purpose of this system is toremove the operator entirely from the task of controlling the movementof the camera in favor of computer-controlled movements. Thisapplication fails to appreciate how a haptic feedback system can improveremote controlling of a camera's movements.

These and all other extrinsic materials discussed in this applicationare incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition oruse of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contraryto the definition of that term provided in this application, thedefinition of that term provided in this application applies and thedefinition of that term in the reference does not apply.

It has yet to be appreciated that a haptic feedback system can be usedin a lightweight handwheel system to give the handwheel a simulatedrotational inertia that is higher than its actual rotational inertia sothat even a remotely controlled camera can feel heavy to a cameraoperator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus, systems, and methods in whichhandwheel systems that are used to remotely control the movements of acamera give haptic feedback to a user so the handwheel feels heavierthan it actually is. These systems are useful to provide cameraoperators a feeling of weight even when remotely controlling a camera'smovements.

In one aspect of the inventive subject matter, a digital handwheelsystem is contemplated. The digital handwheel system includes a motorhaving a rotor; a handwheel coupled with the rotor; a rotation detectorconfigured to detect a rotation of the handwheel; and a controllerelectrically coupled with both the rotation detector and with the motor,where the controller is configured to operate a control system for themotor that uses the detected rotation of the handwheel to simulate arotational inertia of the handwheel that is different from thehandwheel's actual rotational inertia.

In some embodiments, the motor is a brushless DC motor. The rotationdetector can include a rotary encoder, where, in some embodiments, therotary encoder can be a conductive encoder, an optical encoder, anon-axis magnetic encoder, or an off-axis magnetic encoder. In someembodiments, the rotation detector is integrated into the motor.

It is contemplated that the motor can be an AC brushless motor, a DCbrushless motor, a DC brushed motor, a direct drive motor, a linearmotor, a servo motor, or a stepper motor. The simulated rotationalinertia of the handwheel in some embodiments is greater than the actualrotational inertia of the handwheel.

In another aspect of the inventive subject matter, a digital handwheelsystem is contemplated that includes: a motor having an output; ahandwheel coupled with the output, wherein the motor is positioned atleast partially within the handwheel and concentrically within thehandwheel; a rotation detector configured to detect rotation of thehandwheel; and a controller electrically coupled with both the rotationdetector and the motor, thereby forming a closed-loop control system forthe motor that uses a detected rotation of the handwheel to simulate arotational inertia of the handwheel that is different from thehandwheel's actual rotational inertia.

In some embodiments, the motor is a brushless DC motor. The rotationdetector can include a rotary encoder, where, in some embodiments, therotary encoder can be a conductive encoder, an optical encoder, anon-axis magnetic encoder, or an off-axis magnetic encoder. In someembodiments, the rotation detector is integrated into the motor.

It is contemplated that the motor can be an AC brushless motor, a DCbrushless motor, a DC brushed motor, a direct drive motor, a linearmotor, a servo motor, or a stepper motor. The simulated rotationalinertia of the handwheel in some embodiments is greater than the actualrotational inertia of the handwheel.

One should appreciate that the disclosed subject matter provides manyadvantageous technical effects including haptic feedback for handwheelsystems. This haptic feedback system that cause a handwheel to feelheavier than it actually is facilitates improved remote camera controlsby restoring the ability of a camera operator to feel the weight of theequipment they are operating.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventivesubject matter will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanyingdrawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handwheel system.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the handwheel system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is perspective view of another handwheel system.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the handwheel system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side cutaway view of the handwheel system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is perspective view of the handwheel system of FIG. 3 with themounting plate hidden.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a closed-loop control system.

FIG. 8 shows a handwheel system coupled with a remotely controlledmotor.

FIG. 9A shows a side view of a remote head for a camera for use inassociation with embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 9B shows a rear view of a remote head for a camera for use inassociation with embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 9C shows a top view of a remote head for a camera for use inassociation with embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of a control console that incorporateshandwheels of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 11 shows a read view of a control console that incorporateshandwheels of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 12 shows an accessory device that can be plugged into a controlconsole of the inventive subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following discussion provides example embodiments of the inventivesubject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combinationof inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered toinclude all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus, ifone embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodimentcomprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is alsoconsidered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D,even if not explicitly disclosed. Thus, all handwheel and associatedcontrol console embodiments described in this application can sharefeatures with all other handwheel and associated control consoleembodiments without deviating from the inventive subject matter.

As used in the description in this application and throughout the claimsthat follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes pluralreference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as usedin the description in this application, the meaning of “in” includes“in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Also, as used in this application, and unless the context dictatesotherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both directcoupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contacteach other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additionalelement is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms“coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients,properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth,used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are tobe understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.”Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth inthe written description and attached claims are approximations that canvary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by aparticular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parametersshould be construed in light of the number of reported significantdigits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstandingthat the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scopeof some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely aspracticable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of theinvention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from thestandard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.Moreover, and unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges setforth in this application should be interpreted as being inclusive oftheir endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to includeonly commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of valuesshould be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless thecontext indicates the contrary.

It should be noted that any language directed to a computer should beread to include any suitable combination of computing devices, includingservers, interfaces, systems, databases, agents, peers, Engines,controllers, or other types of computing devices operating individuallyor collectively. One should appreciate the computing devices comprise aprocessor configured to execute software instructions stored on atangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium (e.g., harddrive, solid state drive, RAM, flash, ROM, etc.). The softwareinstructions preferably configure the computing device to provide theroles, responsibilities, or other functionality as discussed below withrespect to the disclosed apparatus. In especially preferred embodiments,the various servers, systems, databases, or interfaces exchange datausing standardized protocols or algorithms, possibly based on HTTP,HTTPS, AES, public-private key exchanges, web service APIs, knownfinancial transaction protocols, or other electronic informationexchanging methods. Data exchanges preferably are conducted over apacket-switched network, the Internet, LAN, WAN, VPN, or other type ofpacket switched network. The following description includes informationthat may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not anadmission that any of the information provided in this application isprior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that anypublication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

In some embodiments of the inventive subject matter, a handwheel systemis contemplated that provides haptic feedback to an operator, where thehaptic feedback gives the handwheel a simulated feeling of weight andhigher rotational inertia than actually exists for the handwheelnaturally. This effect is created by coupling a handwheel to an electricmotor, where movements of the handwheel (or, in some embodiments, themotor's output or even the motor's stator itself) are detected by arotation detector (e.g., to determine angular position, angularvelocity, and angular acceleration).

A controller is then electrically coupled with both the motor and therotation detector, such that rotation information (e.g., position orchange in position) collected by the rotation detector is transmitted tothe controller, and the controller uses that information to control themotor's output. Thus, a closed-loop feedback system is created whereposition information from the motor is fed back into the controller, andthe controller thus affects the motor's output according to thatposition information. A schematic of a closed-loop system is shown inFIG. 7.

When a handwheel system is implemented according to the inventivesubject matter, movement information (e.g., one or any combination ofangular position, angular velocity, and angular acceleration) of thehandwheel itself can be used to cause a remotely located motor to turnto match the turning of the handwheel (e.g., at any ratio of handwheelturning to motor turning). For example, a remotely located motor caninclude a controller that causes the motor to turn according to theturning of the handwheel (e.g., a PID, PI, ID, PD, I, P, or D controlscheme or even just a matching the turning of the handwheel according toangular position at any ratio of handwheel turns to remotely locatedmotor turns).

Handwheels of the inventive subject matter are designed to receivemanual input from a human user. As shown in the embodiments in FIGS.1-6, handwheels can include a handle (e.g., a handle mounted to acomponent, such as a peg, that allows the handle to rotate about a fixedaxis) that allows a user to turn the wheel smoothly as the wheelcompletes full revolutions.

In the handwheel system 100 shown in FIGS. 1-2, a handwheel 102 coupleswith a motor 104 in a linear configuration (e.g., each component ispositioned along the axis of rotation of the handwheel). The handwheel102 can be coupled to the motor 104 in a variety of ways, both directlyand indirectly. In embodiments where the handwheel 102 is directlycoupled to the motor 104 (as in FIGS. 1-2), it is contemplated that themotor's output 106 (e.g., a shaft or other rotating output component) isfixedly coupled with the handwheel 102 to produce a 1:1 turning ratiobetween the handwheel 102 and the motor's output 106.

In some embodiments, including the one shown in FIGS. 1-2, the motoroutput 106 and the handwheel's axis of rotation are axially aligned,with the output 106 of the motor coupled with the handwheel 102 by acoupling component 108 that extends from the motor's output 106 to thehandwheel 102 along the handwheel's axis of rotation. While thehandwheel system 100 shown in FIGS. 1-2 show the motor's output 106 andthe handwheel 102 as being coaxially oriented (albeit laterally offsetfrom one another and coupled together by the coupling component 108), itis contemplated that the motor 102 and the handwheel 104 can be coupledtogether in many different positions and orientations, depending on theneeds of a particular application. These alternative embodiments aremade possible by the many different ways in which mechanical energy canbe transferred from one place to another (e.g., by gears, shafts,pulleys, belts, chains, etc.).

In some embodiments—like the handwheel system 100 shown in FIGS. 1-2—thecoupling component 108 that joins the output 106 of a motor to ahandwheel is a separate piece from both the handwheel 102 and from themotor's output 106, but it is contemplated that it can be formed as anintegral component of either or both of those components. In someembodiments, the handwheel 102 can be coupled with the motor 104 or thecoupling component 108 by, for example, one or any combination ofscrew(s), peg(s) and slot(s), and a key and slot.

A handwheel can be coupled directly or indirectly to a motor's output.In one example of an indirect coupling, the handwheel can be coupledwith an output shaft from a gearbox that is coupled with the motor.Gearboxes can be useful to modify an output shaft speed compared to therotational speed of the motor itself, and in so doing, the output torquecan be affected. A motor's output shaft and a handwheel can also becoupled by other mechanisms that transfer mechanical energy, such as abelt or chain.

In a direct coupling example, the turning of the handwheel cancorrespond 1:1 with the motor's output shaft in the absence of a gearboxor other mechanism that introduces a gear ratio. In an indirectcoupling, the handwheel is coupled with the motor's output shaft suchthat the handwheel does not turn at the same rate as the motor's output.As mentioned above, this can be accomplished using, for example, agearbox.

Because embodiments of the inventive subject matter are designed tosimulate handwheel mass that is different from the handwheel's actualmass to create an apparent increase in rotational inertia of thehandwheel, handwheels of the inventive subject matter can be made fromlightweight materials (e.g., plastics, metals, alloys, compositematerials, etc.).

Simulating mass in a handwheel system of the inventive subject matter isaccomplished with the assistance of a controllable, electric motor. Awide variety of motors can be implemented in embodiments of theinventive subject matter, including: AC brushless motors, DC brushedmotors, DC brushless motors, direct drive motors, servo motors, andstepper motors.

AC brushless motors are often used in motion control applications. Theyuse induction of a rotating magnetic field, generated in the stator, toturn both the stator and rotor at a synchronous rate. They rely onpermanent electromagnets to operate. In a DC brushed motor, brushorientation on the stator determines current flow. In some models, thebrush's orientation relative to the rotor bar segments is decisiveinstead.

A direct drive motor is a high-efficiency, low-wear technologyimplementation that replaces conventional servo motors and theiraccompanying transmissions. In addition to being far easier to maintainover a longer period of time, these motors can accelerate more quicklythan other types of electric motors.

Stepper motors use an internal rotor that is electronically manipulatedby external magnets. The rotor can be made with, for example, permanentmagnets or a soft metal. As windings are energized, the rotor teethalign with the magnetic field. This allows them to move from point topoint in fixed increments.

A servo motor is any motor coupled with a feedback sensor to facilitatepositioning; thus, servo motors are the backbone of robotics. Low-costbrushed DC motors are common, and brushless AC motors are often used forhigh-performance applications. Because embodiments of the inventivesubject matter use a motor coupled with a rotation detector to provideangular position feedback to a controller, any of the motors used inembodiments of the inventive subject matter can be considered servomotors. Thus, DC brushed and brushless motors, as well as AC motors, arepreferred handwheel system embodiments.

To create a closed-loop control system in handwheel systems of theinventive subject matter, a rotation detector is also included. Therotational detector is used to determine change in angular position of arotating component. In some embodiments, the rotation detectordetermines a change in angular position of the handwheel, while in otherembodiments, the rotation detector determines a change in angularposition of the motor or motor's output shaft. The rotation detector 110shown in FIGS. 1-2 detects rotation of the handwheel 102. The rotationdetector 110 (which, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, includes a disk 110 a and asensor to detect rotation of that disk 110 a) is then informationallycoupled with the controller 112 where it sends angular positioninformation, and the controller 112 can then use that information toimplement a closed-loop control scheme as shown in FIG. 7. In someembodiments, the rotation detector 110 collects information aboutrotation of the motor 104, which can be different from the rotation ofthe handwheel 102 if there is any type of gearing or gear ratio at playbetween the two components.

A wide variety of rotation detectors are contemplated, including: aconductive encoder, an optical encoder, an on-axis magnetic encoder, andan off-axis magnetic encoder. A conductive encoder includes a series ofcircumferential copper tracks etched onto a printed circuit board (PCB),which is used to encode information about the handwheel's rotation. Inconductive encoders, contact brushes sense the copper tracks androtation direction and magnitude can be detected.

Optical encoders use a light that shines onto a photodiode through slitsin a disk, although reflective versions also exist. Optical encoders canbe sensitive to dust but are otherwise robust and easy to implement. Asthe disk that is fixed to a rotating component rotates, light shinesthrough the slits allowing the rotation to be detected. Optical encoderscan be configured to determine both direction of rotation and angularposition/change in angular position.

On-axis magnetic encoders typically use a specially magnetized 2-poleneodymium magnet attached to the motor shaft. Because it can be fixed tothe end of the shaft, it can work with motors that only have 1 shaftextending out of the motor body. The accuracy can vary from a fewdegrees to under 1 degree. Resolutions can be, for example, as low as 1degree or as high as 0.09 degree. Poorly designed internal interpolationcan cause output jitter, but this can be overcome with internal sampleaveraging.

Off-axis magnetic encoders typically use rubber-bonded ferrite magnetsattached to a metal hub. This offers flexibility in design and low costfor custom applications. Due to the flexibility in many off-axis encoderchips they can be programmed to accept any number of pole widths, so thechip can be placed in any position required for the application.Magnetic encoders operate in harsh environments where optical encoderswould fail to work.

As mentioned above, a closed-loop control system is created using amotor 104, a handwheel 102, a rotation detector 110, and a controller112. It is contemplated that the rotation detector 110 and thecontroller 112 can be included on the same printed circuit board, asshown in FIGS. 1-2. In some embodiments, the controller isinformationally coupled with the rotation detector A controller 112 canbe, for example, a microprocessor, a computing device, or a solid-statecontroller comprising prefabricated IC components. The controller 112 iselectronically and informationally coupled with both the motor 104 andthe rotation detector 110, as shown in FIG. 7. For example, as thehandwheel 102 is turned by a human operator (e.g., the handwheelundergoes angular position change), the rotation detector 110 collectsangular position data and sends that to the controller 112, and thecontroller uses that information to drive the motor 104 (e.g., directlyor via a motor driver circuit).

The controller 112 then interprets that information to determineinformation about the movement of the handwheel 102 (e.g., angularposition, angular velocity, angular acceleration, or a change in any ofthose terms). The controller 112 then sends signals to the motor 104 todrive the motor 104 (e.g., directly or via a motor driver circuit) tobring about the effect of simulated inertia in a handwheel 102. Forexample, the controller 112 can drive a motor 104 in the oppositedirection of the handwheel's angular position change to make it feellike the handwheel 102 is heavier than it actually is. For example, ifthe handwheel 102 undergoes an angular acceleration, the rotationdetector 110 sends signals to the controller 112 sufficient for thecontroller 112 to determine the handwheel's angular position change overtime so that angular acceleration can be deduced, and the controller 110then tells the motor 104 to “brake” (e.g., apply torque in a directionopposite of the handwheel's angular acceleration—in this case, negativeangular acceleration) resisting the handwheel's positive angularacceleration, giving the handwheel 102 a simulated behavior and feel tothe human operator as a heavier wheel. When the handwheel 102 isturning, the controller will cause the handwheel to continue to turn asif it has a higher rotational inertia than it actually has.

As seen best in FIG. 1, the motor 104 and handwheel 102 are both coupledto a mounting bracket 114. The mounting bracket 114 can then be coupledto a structure such as a desk or other assembly that acts as a controlstation. It is contemplated that the mounting bracket 114 can couple thehandwheel system 100 to any surface or structure. For example, it iscommon in the film industry for a camera system to be mounted on the endof a boom (or otherwise in a place where it is difficult or impossiblefor a human operator to physically and directly operate the camera). Insuch instances, the camera mount can include motors that electronicallyreceive information from a handwheel system of the inventive subjectmatter, which can be mounted at a control station or anywhere else thatis convenient for camera operation. An example of a handwheel system 800coupled with a remotely located motor 802 is shown in FIG. 8. It iscontemplated that signals can be transmitted from the handwheel systemto the remotely located motor via wired or wireless connection.

As shown best in FIG. 1, a handwheel support 116 is included. Thehandwheel support 116, which is formed as a part of the mounting bracket114 in FIGS. 1-2, can alternatively be fastened to the mounting bracketas a separate component, and it includes space for a bearing 118 to befitted within it. The bearing 118 reduces rotational friction of thehandwheel 102, allowing it to turn more freely when force is applied tothe handwheel 102 to cause it to turn. In some embodiments, the bearingmounted within the handwheel support 116 includes moving parts (e.g., aball bearing or a tapered roller bearing), while in others, the bearingcan be a low-friction component with no moving parts (e.g., a hardplastic) designed to reduce friction between two components that aredesigned to rotation relative to one another (e.g., the couplingcomponent 108 and the handwheel support 116).

Handwheel systems of the inventive subject matter can be controlled in avariety of ways to create a haptic feedback system where a handwheelfeels heavier than it actually is. Two ways to create a simulatedinertia handwheel follow. One implementation is a “2-state” controlsystem while the other is a “4-state” control system. The 2-stateversion is more direct: the mathematics involved are simpler and thecontroller can cause the motor to react to human input faster. But the2-state version can sometimes become unstable when simulating large orsmall inertia compared to the actual inertia of the handwheel. The4-state version, on the other hand, is more robust, but the consequenceis that it has a less direct response to manual input to the handwheel.Both versions are described below in more detail.

In a 2-state control system, the controller keeps track of two states:the handwheel's angular position and angular velocity. The controller isupdated with the information from the rotation detector to monitor thesestates. Information from the rotation detector is gathered at discretetimesteps (e.g., units of time having some duration that can be basedon, for example, the controller's clock speed). For certain timesteps(e.g., each timestep, every other timestep, or some interval oftimesteps), a difference in angular velocity from a previous step (e.g.,the most recent timestep—or more recent set of timesteps, e.g., the last2-5,5-10, etc.—in which angular position information was gathered or forwhich angular velocity information was computed) is computed usingangular position and time information, allowing for the derivation of adiscrete time estimation of angular acceleration.

A gain is then set within the controller, where gain is a proportionalvalue that shows the relationship between the magnitude of the input tothe magnitude of the output signal at steady state. The gain is set at alevel that balances reactivity and smoothness in the angular velocityand angular acceleration estimations.

The difference between the inertia torque generated by the handwheel andthe one that should be simulated can thus be used to determine how muchtorque the motor should generate using the following equation (or somevariation thereof):

T _(m)=−(−J _(s) −J _(w))α(t)

T_(m) is the motor torque, J_(s) is the moment of inertia of thesimulated wheel, J_(w) is the moment of inertia of the physical wheel,and α(t) is the estimated angular acceleration. By implementing such acontrol system, a handwheel system of the inventive subject matter cantuned to behave as if the handwheel has a higher rotational inertia thanit actually does. During use of a handwheel system using a 2-statecontrol scheme, information about the handwheel's position is used(either directly or indirectly) to drive a remotely located motor torotate according to the handwheel's position. For example, thehandwheel's actual angular position can be used by a control systemimplemented with the remotely located motor to cause the remotelylocated motor to match the angular position of the handwheel (e.g.,either 1:1 match or match at any other gearing ratio).

For larger inertia ratios, it has been discovered that a 4-state controlscheme can be implemented for improved performance over a 2-stateversion. In a 4-state version, the controller keeps track of 4 states:angular position and angular velocity of the handwheel, as well asangular position and angular velocity of a virtual mass (e.g., a virtualhandwheel having a higher mass than the actual handwheel). Thecontroller uses the four states to determine how to drive the motor tocause the handwheel's actual angular position and angular velocity tomatch the angular position and velocity of the virtual mass.

Thus, the controller drives the motor according to a “demand input,”where the demand input can include, for example, differences between theangular position and angular velocity of the handwheel and the angularposition and angular velocity of the virtual mass. The greater thedifferences between the measured angular position and angular velocityof the handwheel and the angular position and angular velocity of thevirtual mass, the harder the motor can be instructed to work to closethe gap (e.g., the controller sends, either directly or indirectly, morecurrent to the motor).

It is contemplated that any number of control schemes can be implementedin embodiments of the handwheel system described in this application,including proportional-integral-derivative controllers and versionsthereof (e.g., any type of control scheme that uses one or more ofproportional-integral-derivative (PID) factors to drive a motor.).Although a PID controller has three control terms (proportional,integral, and derivative), some applications use only one or two termsto provide the appropriate control. This is achieved by setting theunused parameters to zero and is called a PI, PD, P or I controller inthe absence of the other control actions.

As the demand input changes, the controller, according to a controlscheme, drives the motor to match the handwheel's angular position andangular velocity to the angular position and angular velocity of thevirtual mass. Thus, tuning 4-state versions of the control system (e.g.,tuning the gain) is similar to setting the values of a virtual springand damper connected between the handwheel and the virtual mass.

Motion of the virtual mass can be simulated by discrete integration ofangular velocity into angular position, and angular velocity can then beupdated according to the forces acting on the virtual mass. Torqueapplied to the handwheel from the motor is interpreted as a torqueacting on the virtual mass (e.g., where the handwheel and the virtualmass are modeled as if they are coupled by spring force), and damping ismodeled as being applied between the virtual mass and ground. In systemswith high damping, movement of the handwheel is experienced by anoperator as an effect similar to a “fluid head” effect that is presenton some camera mounts.

With a control system implemented to provide haptic feedback to causethe handwheel of a handwheel system to feel heavier than it actually is(e.g., having higher rotational inertia), rotation information (e.g.,angular position, angular velocity, angular acceleration, and changesthereof) about the handwheel can then be transmitted (e.g., by aninformational connection such as a wired or wireless connection) to aremotely located motor that controls movement of, for example, a camerasystem, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9C. FIGS. 9A-9C show side, rear, and topviews, respectively, of a remote head 900 for a camera, the remote head900 having motors 902, 904, & 906 configured to cause the camera 908 totilt up and down (FIG. 9A), tilt side to side (FIG. 9B), and pan left toright (FIG. 9C) as shown by the double sided arrows in each figure.Thus, for each motor in the remote head shown in FIGS. 9A-9C, therewould be an accompanying handwheel system, where the handwheel systemcouples to each motor in the same way as shown in FIG. 8. It iscontemplated that any type of electrically controlled tilting, panning,and rotating frame (e.g., controlled using rotational movement such asvia electric motors) can be controlled by handwheels of the inventivesubject matter.

It is contemplated that signals transmitted from a handwheel system to aremotely located motor can include raw angular position information froma handwheel system so that the remotely controlled motor can interpretthat information to control the remotely located motor, or, in someembodiments, the signals from the handwheel system can be sufficient tocause a motor driver to drive a motor without the need to interpret anyrotation information (e.g., by running a control scheme such as a PIDcontrol system—or any other control system described in thisapplication—in the handwheel system's controller to control the remotelylocated motor).

Remotely located motors can thus include supporting electronics (e.g., amotor driver) and, if necessary, a controller (e.g., processor andassociated electronics sufficient to run a motor control system), toaccommodate any signal that is received from a handwheel system.Remotely located motors can thus be caused to rotate to match therotation of a handwheel that is included in a handwheel system of theinventive subject matter at any gear ratio. For example, if a cameramount includes two axes of rotation (e.g., panning left to right andtilting up and down), then two handwheel systems of the inventivesubject matter can be implemented with two remotely located motors(e.g., located at the camera mount) to give a person remote control overmovement of a camera on the camera mount, similar to the remote head 900described above with respect to FIGS. 9A-9C.

FIGS. 3-6 show another embodiment of a handwheel system 300 of theinventive subject matter where a motor 302 is mounted within thehandwheel 304 itself. This embodiment takes up less space and can easilybe mounted to any surface via, for example, screws that fit into thescrew holes 306 of the mounting plate 308. Handwheel systems like theone shown in FIGS. 3-6 include a motor 302, a handwheel 304, a rotationdetector 310, a controller 312, and components sufficient to couplethose components together, similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2.As with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, the motor 302 remainsstationary relative to the handwheel 304 when the handwheel 304 isturned. The motor 302 is coupled with the mounting plate 308 that allowsthe motor 302 to be fixedly coupled with another surface. Although screwholes 306 are shown, it is contemplated that any number of differenttypes of fastening techniques and devices can be implemented (e.g., pegand slot, adhesive, clip, key and slot, etc.).

The motor 302 is mounted within the handwheel 304 such that the motor'srotational output is coaxially positioned relative to the handwheel'saxis of rotation. This reduces complexity by obviating a need foradditional mechanisms to transfer mechanical energy from the motor tothe handwheel (e.g., gears, pulleys, chain drives, etc.), and it alsomakes the entire handwheel system 300 much smaller by using the spacewithin the handwheel to house other components of the system 300. In thehandwheel system shown in FIGS. 3-6, the motor's output is coupled withthe handwheel 304 to result in a 1:1 ratio of rotation between thehandwheel 302 and the motor's output. It is contemplated that any gearratio desired can be implemented.

A rotation detector 310 is similarly implemented to detect rotation ofthe handwheel 304. The detected rotation is used, as described abovewith respect to FIGS. 1-2, as feedback in a closed-loop control schemethat incorporates the motor 302, the handwheel 304, the controller 312,and the rotation detector 310. The rotation detector 310 works incoordination with a disk 314 where the rotation detector detectsrotation (e.g. angular position or change thereof) of the disk 314.Moving the handwheel 304 causes the rotation detector 310 to detectangular position change of the handwheel 304, and that angular positionchange can be used to determine angular velocity and, in someembodiments, angular acceleration (or any change thereof). Thisinformation is fed back into the controller 312 so that it can be usedto control the motor's output such that the motor 302 causes thehandwheel 304 to feel heavier (or lighter, if desired) than it actuallyis. The functioning of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-6 is the same asthe functioning of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, except that themotor 302 is contained within the handwheel 304 to reduce the size ofthe handwheel system 300, overall.

The handwheel system shown in FIGS. 3-6 includes components analogous tothe components described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS.1-2, except in different configurations (e.g., the components are shapeddifferently and positioned differently within the system 300) so thatthe motor can be positioned within the handwheel instead of outside thehandwheel. In either embodiment, the motor's output is positioned andoriented to be coaxially aligned with the axis of rotation of thehandwheel 304 to reduce complexity.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an embodiment of a control console 1000incorporating two handwheels of the inventive subject matter. Any of thehandwheels described in this application can be incorporated into acontrol console of the inventive subject matter. FIG. 10, which shows atop view of a control console 1000, shows the control console 1000 caninclude a first handwheel 1002 a second handwheel 1004, as well as anarray of inputs with a display 1006 to provide visual feedback to auser. As shown in FIG. 11, the back of the control console 1000 includesa variety of input/output ports as well as two external antennas 1008 &1010. Control consoles of the inventive subject matter receive userinputs, allowing users to adjust a wide variety of different parametersand characteristics of the handwheels or to otherwise control ahandwheel system.

As discussed above, handwheels on a control console can be configured tocontrol remote motors that affect camera movements, though it iscontemplated that control consoles of the inventive subject matter canbe used to control remotely located motors or actuators for any purpose.In the context of camera control, for instance, handwheel 1002 cancontrol a remote motor that causes a camera to pan and handwheel 1004can similarly control camera tilt. As shown in FIG. 11, handwheels 1002and 1004 can include cutouts 128 and 130, which help to balance weightdistribution on the handwheels due to inclusion of handles 132 and 134.The top surface of the control console 1000, as shown in FIG. 10,includes a power button 1012, a menu button 1014, and an array ofprogrammable buttons 1016. Programmable buttons 1016 can be configuredto provide input to the console based on information shown on thedisplay 1006 (e.g., “soft” inputs) and can be changed based on a user'sneed. In some embodiments, programable buttons 1016 can be configured toprovide a static input regardless of information shown on the display1006 (e.g., “hard” inputs) and cannot be changed. For example, the powerbutton is a hard input because its behavior is always to turn thecontrol console on and off. In still further embodiments, programmablebuttons 1016 can include a combination of soft and hard inputs.

Control console 1000 also includes two dial inputs 1018 and 1020. Dials1018 and 1020 can be used to adjust a variety of differentcharacteristics of the control console 1000. For example, dial 1018 canbe used to adjust the simulated mass of handwheel 1002 while dial 1020can be used to adjust the simulated mass of handwheel 1004. But becausethe control console 1000 is digitally operated, dials 1018 and 1020 canbe used for a variety of different purposes depending on a user's needs.For example, dial 1018 can be used to adjust simulated mass of bothhandwheels, and dial 1020 can be used to adjust simulated friction ordamping (or both) of both handwheels.

In a hypothetical handwheel system with no friction, once turned, ahandwheel would continue to turn in perpetuity or until a user appliesan external force (e.g., a user can apply pressure to a handwheel toslow its turning, as-desired), whereas a system with high friction wouldcause a handwheel to cease turning relatively quickly after a turningforce is no longer being applied. In a handwheel system that simulateszero friction, the motor incorporated into the handwheel portion of thesystem causes the handwheel to continue turning as if no frictionexists. This represents a major advantage over purely mechanical systemsthat attempt to approximate zero friction but are physically unable todo so.

All inputs on the control console 1000 can be used to adjust turningbehaviors of the handwheels 1002 and 1004 in a variety of differentways. As described above, dials 1018 and 1020 can be configured toadjust behaviors and characteristics of each individual handwheelseparately from the other handwheel. For example, it can be beneficialfor a camera system to be able to freely pan (e.g., simulated lowfriction for one handwheel) but tilt with some amount offriction/damping (e.g., simulated friction/damping for the otherhandwheel). Dials 1018 and 1020 can also behave as buttons that can beclicked in when pressure is applied to their top surfaces. In suchembodiments, clicking a dial can cycle through parameters that the dialis configured to adjust by turning that dial. The clicking action caneither be accomplished using a mechanical component or by tactilefeedback simulating a click.

In some embodiments, display 1006 can include a touch screen tofacilitate additional input. In embodiments with a touch screen display,a user can touch a value to be adjusted, which can then be adjustedusing an input dial, a button, or some combination thereof. For example,the display 1006 can show a value indicating simulated inertia for oneof the handwheels. A user can then touch that value and subsequentlyturn one of the dials to adjust that value. In some embodiments,touching a parameter (e.g., speed) on the touch screen can cause theparameter to cycle to the next parameter (e.g., damping), allowing auser to adjust the parameter using, e.g., a dial. Gesture inputs arealso contemplated, which can facilitate menu navigation, allowing usersto more quickly access settings and adjust handwheel properties.

In some embodiments, control console 1000 can present a dashboard viadisplay 1006, which can allow users to assign different attributes to beadjusted using the various inputs to the console 1000. For example, eachdial 1018 and 1020 can be assigned any number of attributes that thedials can adjust (e.g., 1-5 different attributers or parameters, buttheoretically an unlimited number of parameters can be adjusted by adial). To cycle between attributes, a dial can be clicked downward likea button, as discussed above, or user inputs to either the input buttons1016, the display 1006, or some combination thereof can be used to cyclethrough adjustable attributes.

Buttons 1016 can have different functions assigned to them, such asfunctions that requires toggling (e.g., one of the buttons can beconfigured to toggle simulated friction on or off). These buttons 1016can also be used to access pre-set handwheel settings. For example, if auser creates a handwheel profile, they can save that handwheel profileto the control console's memory for later access. Each saved profile canstore all possible parameter and attribute settings for one or bothhandwheels.

Control consoles are configured with a variety of different outputmodes. FIG. 11, which shows the back of control console 1000, showsantennas 1008 & 1010 as well as output ports 1022 a-c, bypass port 1024,and USB ports 1026 a-b. Output ports 1022 a-c can all be, e.g., LEMOports that can be used with LEMO connectors. LEMO connectors are used inmedical, industrial, audio/visual, telecommunications, military,scientific research and measurement applications. Although LEMO portsand connectors are contemplated in this application, other types ofports (standard or otherwise) can be used to bring about similar resultsas LEMO ports/connectors. Alternative ports that can be included are USBports (of any standard).

As shown in FIG. 11, port 1022 a can be used to add expansion devices tothe control console 1000. For example, FIG. 12 shows an expansionaccessory 1200 that adds an additional dial 1202 that can be used toadjust additional parameters related to any number of remotelycontrolled motors. Dial 1202 can also be clicked to cycle throughdifferent parameters like other dials described in this application.Accessory 1200 also includes several input buttons 1206 that can be usedto toggle different features and parameters. Dial Accessory 1200 cancouple with control console 1000 via, e.g., a LEMO port such as port1022 a via a wired connection using cable 1204. In some embodiments,accessory 1200 can communicate with control console 1000 wirelessly via,e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, or another wireless communication protocol. Port1022 b on control console 1000 is similarly configured to facilitateconnection of additional accessories that can add functionalities to thecontrol console 1000. Port 1022 c is configured as a power input.

Control consoles can be configured to communicate wirelessly with remotemotors, remote motor controllers, or any other remote device capable ofbeing controlled by a console of the inventive subject matter (e.g.,wirelessly via the antennas 1008 & 1010 or by wired connection asdescribed below). In some embodiments, control consoles can communicatewith remote motors via wired connections, by, e.g., using port 1024.Port 1024, as shown in FIG. 11, is an RS-485 port, which is a standarddefining the electrical characteristics of drivers and receivers for usein serial communications systems. Although port 1024 is depicted as anRS-485 port, port 1024 can be any other type of serial port capable ofserial communication (e.g., any type of USB port). In some embodiments,both wireless and wired communications can take place simultaneously,depending on the configuration of the remote motors being controlled bythe control console 1000.

Ports 1026 a and 1026 b are USB ports that can facilitate high speeddata transfer so the control console 1000 can receive software updates.For example, port 1026 a on control console 1000 is a USB port thatallows for updates to a main processor in the control console and port1026 b is a USB port that allows for updates to a motor processor. AnyUSB standard can be implemented.

In addition to those functions and parameters discussed above, controlconsoles of the inventive subject matter can adjust many other differenttypes of parameters, including parameters that can be toggled andparameters subject to adjustable ranges. A toggle is an on/off parameterwhile a range is a parameter that can have its boundary conditionsadjusted, e.g., by a dial. Some platform-wide parameters includetoggling a recording on or off and toggling handwheels on or off using,e.g., one or more of the input buttons 116. Platform-wide parameterranges that can be adjusted using one or more of the dials 1018 and 1020include lens focus motor position, lens iris motor position, and lenszoom motor position.

Handwheels behave according to many different parameters that can beadjusted using toggles, dials, or both. For example, one or more inputbuttons 1016 can be set to toggle a handwheel recording sequence or toturn a handwheel on or off. Recording can be useful to allow users toensure certain shots can be exactly repeated in the event of a reshoot.Regarding dials 1018 and 1020, one or more dials can be used to adjustroll rate (e.g., how quickly a handwheel can turn) and roll offset(e.g., a roll offset is used to change the horizon angle—also called thezero angle—and it is called an offset because other roll parameters canrefer back to the roll offset if, for example, a Roll Reset function iscalled).

Input buttons 1016 can also be set to toggle: change in pan direction(e.g., reverse direction), tilt direction (e.g., reverse direction),set/clear limit up (e.g., setting the “Tilt Up” limit takes a currenttilt position and makes that tilt position a maximum allowable uppercamera position), set/clear limit down, set/clear limit left, set/clearlimit right, and neutral gear.

A neutral gear can be implemented to disengage a handwheel from activelycontrolling a camera position. Including a neutral gear allows anoperator to, e.g., set one or more handwheels to desirable handpositions. For example, when an operator knows that they are going torotate the wheel three times to the right and land with the handle at12'oclock to catch the intended action, they can toggle a neutral gearto facilitate that action. Dials 1018 and 1020 can be used to adjust pansmoothing, tilt smoothing, and limit softening.

Limit setting is a parameter unique to embodiments of the inventivesubject matter. With mechanical heads implemented in mechanical cameracontrol systems, there is no limit to the number of revolutions ahandwheel can undergo. Setting rotation limits can be helpful for acamera operator in several ways. For example, if the operator needs tohit an exact frame (e.g., stop a camera's rotation at an exact positionto capture a carefully framed shot), that operator can rely on thedigital system to bring the camera to a stop at exactly the right point.In another example, if a camera operator needs to react to a scene andwants to keep something out of frame, they can set limits to preventlooking outside of a certain window.

Limit setting can be accomplished via software in association withhardware components such as the rotation detector and the motor that arecoupled with a particular handwheel. Limits can be set for one or morehandwheels. In some embodiments, limits do not cause handwheels to stoprotating, and instead simply stop a remote motor from turning once ahandwheel has turned up to a limit. Thus, a handwheel rotates causing aremote motor to turn, and once the handwheel passes the software limit,the handwheel continues to turn, but the remote motor no longer turns.This allows an operator to smoothly transition a shot from one frame toanother.

Thus, once a handwheel passes a limit, the wheel no longer controls thecamera's position directly and new behaviors arise: the operator can berequired to turn the handwheel back in the opposite direction of theoriginal turn until the handwheel is back within the limit, thusallowing the operator to regain direct, proportional control of thecamera; or the handwheel can regain control as soon as it is rotated inthe opposite direction at all. Handwheel behavior after passing a limitcan be user-defined based on a user's preference.

Two types of limits are contemplated: hard limiting and soft limiting.With a hard limit set, as a handwheel is rotated past a limit, thesystem stops the camera-controlling motor associated with that handwheelimmediately, and the wheel continues to move due to inertia, asdescribed above. In addition, the motor incorporated into the handwheelcan then begin to brake the handwheel. Braking can be complicatedbecause the motor must simulate rotational inertial while simultaneouslyapply braking. Once a rotation detector measures zero rotationalvelocity of a handwheel, it indicates the motor has succeeded inbringing the handwheel to a stop, and the motor then rotates thehandwheel back to the exact rotational position of the camera (e.g.,back to the handwheel's rotational position when it reached the limit).Next, in some embodiments, when the rotation detector indicates that theposition of the handwheel and the position of the camera match (e.g.,the handwheel has been rotated back to the limit's position), usercontrol is restored to the handwheel. In some embodiments, the resetprocess described above can occur in, e.g., under 5 seconds (preferablyunder 2 seconds) with no burden on the operator.

Soft limits, on the other hand, can be set to bring a camera to a gentlestop. As a handwheel approaches a soft limit, it enters a predeterminedrange of angular positions before the soft limit. Once the handwheel'sangular position is within that range, the handwheel motor will begin tobrake the wheel. Because one of the motors controlling the camera iscontrolled by the handwheel, the camera begins to slow according to theslowing handwheel. In some embodiments, as the wheel continues toapproach the soft limit, the handwheel's motor causes the handwheel toslow further. Finally, the handwheel is brought to a gentle stop at thesoft limit, where the gentleness of the stop can be pre-set by anoperator. For example, an operator can set the range of angularpositions in which the handwheel is slowed, and the operator can alsocause the handwheel to slow linearly, asymptotically, etc., according tothe implemented control system (e.g., PID, PI, PD, P or I controllers).

With a soft limit set, an operator never loses control. Instead, theoperator maintains direct control of the handwheel, and the operatorphysically can feel not only the soft limit, but also the braking forceapplied to gently slow the camera.

Regarding handwheel behavior, dials 1018 and 1020 can be used to adjust:tilt drag, tilt mass, pan drag, and pan mass top give the system theapparent mechanical behaviors of any physical system. Link tiltmass/drag to pan (e.g., this can make both the pan and tilt motorparameters (i.e., mass/drag) the same across multiple handwheels) can betoggled using at least one input button 1016. Finally, the controlconsole 1000 can be used to reboot motor drivers and clear motor errorsby, e.g., selecting a function from a menu and pressing an input button1016 linked to that function, by clicking in a dial, or by providinginput to a touch screen.

Systems of the inventive subject matter can additionally incorporate avariety of camera effects. A control console 1000 can include theability to select different effects such as standing, walking, running,and riding in a car, each of which involves pre-programmed behaviors forthe remote motors and causes a camera to imitate a camera that ishand-held by an operator taking part in those activities while filming.In some embodiments, handwheels 1002 and 1004 move according to theselected effect, while in other embodiments, only the remote motors moveaccording to the selected effect, allowing an operator to control thecamera normally despite its currently applied effect.

Thus, a user can customize a control console 1000 based on theirspecific needs. For example, a veteran camera operator focused on makinga difficult shot that involves a tilt limit and a whip pan may need toquickly change handwheel parameters to allow the operator to quickly oreven instantly lighten the handwheels. In such a case, the dial on theright can be configured to adjust pan speed, mass, and limit softening,while the dial on the left can be configured to adjust tilt speed anddrag. The input buttons can be set to toggle two motor presets, a tiltup limit, and a tilt down limit.

In another example, a drone operator focused on controlling a camerawith a limited crew might configure the console such that the right dialcan adjust pan speed, mass, and zoom, while the left knob can adjusttilt speed, drag, and iris. The input buttons can thus be configured totoggle two motor presets, record start/stop, and tilt down limit.

In another example, a camera operator shooting a music video canconfigure the console to facilitate different camera effects. The rightdial can be configured to adjust pan speed, roll rate, and shake speed,while the left knob can be configured to adjust tilt speed, roll speed,and shake intensity. Input buttons can be configured to toggle rollreset and neutral gear.

Thus, specific systems and methods of simulating increased mass of ahandwheel to create a lightweight, haptic feedback-enabled handwheelsystem have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to thoseskilled in the art that many more modifications besides those alreadydescribed are possible without departing from the inventive concepts inthis application. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to berestricted except in the spirit of the disclosure. Moreover, ininterpreting the disclosure all terms should be interpreted in thebroadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular theterms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring tothe elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicatingthat the referenced elements, components, or steps can be present, orutilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that arenot expressly referenced.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control console incorporating digitalhandwheels, comprising: a console body comprising a first dial, a seconddial, a display, and at least one input button; a first handwheelcoupled with the console body, wherein the first handwheel comprises afirst rotation detector configured to detect a first rotation of thefirst handwheel; wherein the first handwheel rotates according to afirst parameter, and the first parameter can be adjusted by the firstdial; a second handwheel coupled with the console body, wherein thesecond handwheel comprises a second rotation detector configured todetect a second rotation of the second handwheel; and wherein the secondhandwheel operates according to a second parameter, and the secondparameter can be adjusted by the second dial.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the first handwheel comprises a first motor, and the secondhandwheel comprises a second motor.
 3. The system of claim 2, whereinthe first and second motors are a brushless DC motors.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first rotation detector comprises a rotary encoder.5. The system of claim 4, wherein the rotary encoder comprises at leastone of a conductive encoder, an optical encoder, an on-axis magneticencoder, and an off-axis magnetic encoder.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the first rotation detector is integrated into the first motor.7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna tofacilitate wireless communication with a remote motor that is controlledby rotation either the first handwheel, the second handwheel, or both.8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first parameter is simulatedrotational inertia of the first handwheel, and wherein the simulatedrotational inertia is greater than the actual rotational inertia of thehandwheel.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first parametercomprises at least one of a first hard limit and a first soft limit forthe first handwheel, and wherein the second parameter comprises at leastone of a second hard limit and a second soft limit for the secondhandwheel.
 10. A control console incorporating digital handwheels,comprising: a console body comprising a dial, a display, and at leastone input button; a handwheel coupled with the console body, wherein thehandwheel comprises a rotation detector configured to detect a rotationof the handwheel; wherein the handwheel rotates according to aparameter, and the parameter can be adjusted by the dial.
 11. The systemof claim 10, wherein the handwheel comprises a motor.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the motor is a brushless DC motor.
 13. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the rotation detector comprises a rotary encoder. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein the rotary encoder comprises at leastone of a conductive encoder, an optical encoder, an on-axis magneticencoder, and an off-axis magnetic encoder.
 15. The system of claim 10,wherein the rotation detector is integrated into the motor.
 16. Thesystem of claim 10, further comprising at least one antenna tofacilitate wireless communication with a remote motor that is controlledby rotation either the first handwheel, the second handwheel, or both.17. The system of claim 10, wherein the parameter is simulatedrotational inertia of the handwheel, wherein the simulated rotationalinertia is greater than the actual rotational inertia of the handwheel.18. The system of claim 10, wherein the parameter comprises at least oneof a hard limit and a soft limit for the handwheel.